Having Total Knee Replacement Surgery? 5 Tips for You
Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgeries in medical history.
While this procedure used to be exclusively performed on older adults with arthritic joint deterioration, we’re also seeing total knee replacement surgeries in younger patients.
But what does that ultimately mean?
It means that the vast majority of those 800,000 have been able to regain their mobility without the agonizing pain they had before.
Each of those surgeries represents a grandfather now able to play with his children, an athlete being able to return to the basketball court, or someone who can move more comfortably.
Are you having joint replacement surgery? We have 5 useful tips to help you.
5 Useful Tips for Those Having Total Knee Replacement Surgery
1. Do Your Physical Therapy “Homework”
Most likely, your physical therapist will assign some “homework”— exercises that you need to do in order to restore functioning in your knees.
By following your physical therapist’s instructions to the letter, you’re going to have a smoother and quicker recovery. While these may be a bit uncomfortable to start with, eventually, as your knee heals, you’ll discover that your hard work has paid off.
If you have any questions about these exercises, don’t hesitate to talk to your health care team.
2. Have Your Home Prepared Before the Surgery
Do you have any area rugs? Is there clutter on the floor? Maybe there’s an ottoman that you could easily stub your toe on.
These are red flags and tripping hazards. Remember to have these out of the way before you have total knee replacement surgery. We don’t want anything to impede your recovery or put you at risk for an injury.
If possible, enlist the help of a friend to do grocery shopping or some light housework. You’ll not be able to tackle these tasks when you first return home. It’s best to have this plan in place before your procedure.
3. Be Mindful of How You Move
When you’re recovering from a joint replacement, there are certain motions that will be off-limits while you are healing. For example, if you’ve had a total knee replacement, you’ll need to avoid movements that twist your knees. It’s important to avoid placing any unnecessary stress on your knee.
4. Be Sure You Have an Updated List of Medications
Speak with us to ensure we have a complete list of your medications and their dosages. It’s important to also tell us about any herbal supplements or vitamins that you are taking.
After your surgery, you’ll need to take any new medications exactly as directed. When taking pain medicine, remember to take it according to instructions. This will help you “get ahead” of the pain. Do not wait until you are in pain to take the medication.
5. Take Care of Yourself
This is not the time to try to finish up that big work project or tackle cleaning out your closets. Leave these tasks for when you are feeling better. Your body needs rest for the first few weeks after your surgery, and we’ll tell you what activities are permitted and which ones need to be put on hold for a while.
Of course, a major part of taking care of yourself is following the directions of our orthopedic surgeon in Raleigh and the Triangle. We believe in a team-based approach to medicine, and that means we want to partner with you on this journey.
We’re the Area’s Premier Practice for Total Knee Replacement Surgery
We want you to regain the joy of your everyday life—no matter what that looks like. For some, that means beating their best time in a run around the neighborhood. For others, it could mean being able to walk without pain. Whatever your goals, our experienced team of experts will work with you to help ensure you meet your goals.
For decades, we’ve provided comprehensive services so our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh and the Triangle area can treat anything from carpal tunnel syndrome, to sports injuries.
We believe it is important that you have a choice in where you receive treatment. That’s why our orthopedic surgeons are affiliated with five local hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.
Could a total knee replacement surgery be the key to relieving your chronic pain? Schedule an appointment with one of our Raleigh knee surgeons today to find the answer.
